Electrolytic cell



G. K. THOMAS;

ELECTROLYTIC CELL. APPLICATION HLED MAY 11, 1920.

Patenmd Nov. 23, 1920.

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m part A v .iirehtioii relates M} elcc rolytic cells; uml the ohicct oi the ihrehtirm is to prorhle an electrolytic ell coihprii-sihgr .rllllll'l-l-il economical mill cliicicht hieiihe wherehy to limit l'llc.tc5i,i".l1lllfil roltx c oil. the cell with out substantially detracting}; lroiic. the aimpere-h ,:-iir cap-(icitr thercoi and without him-- itlhp; the period o: ime'luliicee thereoit. I

l.he means; provided for :iccoihphehiiiog I I 1- i h the ohp zihore sect liortl is such that the M 1 a SINHU ii). the eereiei.

trhee 1:"; iv me with comphi-iii t or use V in the accompanyihtl; tli'tfiri"i -l hiire illustrated my ihreirtioh 21:5 iilifllltjil to a pr min-r cell of the type coihiiio cmplc in i'iiilmir hl'ifll; (llL'U'lJth-u hi to he :ihil itil (Milli liriwcaer. that h'iy' iiireirtioii is hot limited to cells employed in the circul ol':

the chise mcih'iohcil; 'lzict l: (lo not ileeire to rcetric he scope oi? the zipi iehileci ch ihm to primary cells at all are it will he zippzireht to persons 'l'uihiliiir withthe "t to which rm invention relates that the iinehtioh rhriy liii employed in connection with secorhlziry he tterice it ilcsiircii. h

lh thev aim-(ph nihyihggg drawings l'hrihmo hurt oi t is epccilic l ip ure ii "lilllfitlzttim the receptiicih 'tziiher oi mi electrolytic cell iii ye i he uhorlc :iihl (i9 elcihi hmrh iii cie'rzitioia. ier sectional View of t iile there" he :morle a M elci chts iiiiii the. Eh pportinp; cia the. or this \iicw he hr; twitch oh line Oi? rm in Fig. El NEW in perspective oi one or the zinc pl or iiiioile elei'rreiite, oi Wliit'tl'i the coil here F1 :UWZI comprises two, and,

l ig. i f. 2r illttgjjl'iihi ilhisthritmg; a, convert tionzil track circuit ehowl gr, ziillfll'l ti; other things, :i resistance in. ecrice with the call, which mv present invention enables the to alimihtitc.

xtiilci'fiy which put to no usetul purpose Merit lPaiteiijterl New 23, 1920.

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lil'lll'illttl' clieriii'rtcrs of reference refer to HllilllN pairthrouggqhoiit the several views.

it ring;- first to Fig; il art A l have illustlcilletl one block oi. it military, the rails of which block are separated lroin the rails of cohti uoiie hlocks by insulated rail joints it it is; zieeiimecl ii at trailic moves from right to left over the their shown in. this ii gmi'e. lirhhgerl zicirorie the "mile of block A at or immediatelyadjacent the entrance to the hloch, a relay ll, the armature b of which controls {It locel circuit connected with ttlltl. controlling a roadway signaling device located along); the truck at some point in ad were of the chtimice to block A. it willihe unnecessary to illustrate the roadway sigiielii' mechamismm as it Willhe understood. that when the lo -:1l circuit is closed, the sigi'iiiiimr mechanism lilllf21lIPFl safety but l11dl- Anti-e :hih 'cr when the local. circuit is opened tll'lt to the ileiiher gimition of relay B. lirhlggeil. across the "ails of block it, at or near the exit ciul thereof, is a primary but tcr r ti. l t will he noted that rehiyll forms part iii a closed circuit coin )risihg battery unit the rails; oi hlocl it. l owever, when 21 car or locoiiiotire occupies block A, the currmit 'lroiii' battery (lis ehort-eircuited through the wheels oi the car or locomotive with tlltl'flfifillll? that relay ll is cleiiiiergizecl and the local circuit controlling the road- "wirr' signaling mechanism is opened, thereby causing it (hihggcr signal to be displayed or smmilcll hr the signaling apparatus in the usual hmhiier. llrieiiy this is the mode of operation ol' trim-l circuits oi the type shown in Fig. ii

lit has been lomiil that prinmrr cells oi the c: ustic iso h1 type are most desirable for me in trawl; circuits oi the tyne hereihbciore ilcecriheil. However, prior to the advent oi my ihrentioh the use of such cells has prei-ac tell certain practical diiliculties. Due to the low internal reeieifeiice' oi such cells, it hue hcch heecsisziry, in actual practiceto include an external resistance l) in serles feet that it consumes a certain amount of i gization of the track relay B when the block A is clear. It has been found that maintenance men are inclined to take out or shortcircuit the resistance D to cause the track circuit to function properly under the abnormal conditions caused by wet weather.

The results of this practice are oftentimes disastrous for the reason that when the damp weather passes and leakage across the rails ceases to a greater or less extent, the wheels of the car or locomotive are insufiicient to completely short-circuit the track relay when the block is occupied. In such a case, the signaling apparatus controlled by relay B indicates safety, when as a matter of fact it should indicate a condition of danger.

My present invention contemplates the provision of an electrolytic cell which is particularly adapted for use in track circuits of the class described, which renders it possible to dispense with the hereinbefore mentioned external series resistance, this being accomplished without substantially diminishing the ampere-hour capacity of the cell.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a cell comprising the usual jar or receptacle 5 provided with the cover 6. It will be understood that the receptacle 5 contains a suitable electrolyte 7 which, in the form of battery shown, is preferably a solution of caustic soda. Positive and negative plates are illustrated at 8 and 9 respectively, there being two anodes and a single cathode in the form of battery shown, although it is obvious the number of positive and negative plates employed may vary as required; The cathode construction consists of a copper framework 10 within which is molded the usual copper oxid-plate indicated at 11. The upper portion of the copper cathode frame 10 is conformed to provide an opening for the reception of the porcelain blocks '1212. The blocks l2--l2 are held in position by the screw 13 which likewise supports and elec trically connects the zinc anode plates 88 which are held in suspension with their plane inner faces spaced from the cathode element. Screw 13 is electrically connected with a conductor 14 which extends upwardly through an aperture in the cover 6 and c0nstitutes one terminal of the cell. The anode 1 ,seopss and cathode elements are suspended from the cover (3 by a screw 15 which, being in electrical contact with the frame of the cathode element, constitutes the other terminal of the cell.

As thus far described, the form of primary cell shown in the accompanying drawings does not differ essentially from primary cells now in general use and it is to be understood that the materials of which those elements are made, as well as the formation and arrangement thereof may be varied within wide limits in so far as the application of my invention thereto is concerned.

Attention is directed to the fact that the copper oxid plate 11 of the cathode, as well as all parts of the cathode framework 10, are sheathed by an enyelop 16 in which is formed a plurality of small apertures LT-17. The form of envelop shown in the accompanying drawings is provided with eight of these apertures, there being four on each side of the cathode element. It is desirable that this envelop be of non-porous material so that it will effectively prevent the electrolyte from coming into contact with any portion of the cathode element. save through the comparatively small apertures 17-17. While the envelop 16 may be formed of a variety of different materials, and "while I do not wish to limit myself to an envelop formed of any particular material, I will say that I have found that a comparatively thick coating of pitch applied to all parts .of the cathode structure and provided with the small apertures 17'17 affords excellent results. It is obvious that the envelop may be made of any metal which is not electrolytically affected by any other elements of the cell. I have found that by employing the envelop l6 and thus protecting the cathode plate from direct contact with the electrolyte save through the small apertures 17-17, I am enabled to limit the current discharge of the cell to that rate of discharge which is best suited to the particular requirements of the circuit in which the cell is included. By virtue of this arrangement, when using the cell of my invention in a track circuit of the type shown in Fig. 4:, I am enabled to dispense with the resistance in series with the cell.

While I have herein illustrated and dcscribed but a single application of; my present invention, I wish to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiment of the invention herein shown but desire to claim all other amulications of the invention coming within the terms and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent f the United States is 1. In an electrolytic cell, the combination with an electrolyte and the positive and negaeeopee ti ve elements of the cell, of nleane tor innit ing the current discharge of the cell, said means con'ipl'ising an apertm'cd envelop inclosing one of said elements; antl preventing the electrolyte from coinii'ig into contact with said inolosed elements, save through the apertures in said envelop.

2. lln an electrolytic cell, the combination with an electrolyte and the positi vo and negative elements of the cell, an apert-uied envelop of pitch, inclosing one of said elements and preventing the electrolyte from coming into contact with said inolosed element, save through the apertures in said envelop.

3. In an electrolytic cell, the combination with an electrolyte and the positive and negav the elements of the cell, an apertui'etl envelop of amorphous material, inclosing' one of said elements and preventing the electrolyte from cominginto contact with said in ('lOh'Qfl element, save tl'irongh the apertures in Sillll envelop.

4L. In cm'i'ihination with the electrolyte and the positive and negative plates of an eleotrolytie cell, means for limiting the cur: rent discharge of the cell comprising an envelop of non-porous material, inclosing one of said plates, said envelop movicled With a. plurality of apertures through which and only through which the electrolyte may come into cont-act with the lIlClOSGEl plate.

ln witness Wl .1'eot,.l hereunto suhecrihe my name this 5th (lay of May, 1920.

illltl l-l GE It. THOMAS. ll itnesses it n onnw W1 n'mcncol: N, i tjnein C. i tijnanme. 

